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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Chap._ Copyright No. 

/Sf6 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



EUROCLYDON 



OR 



THE SHIPWRECK OF ST. PAUL 



A BIBLE STORY IN BLANK VERSE 



BY REV. H. M. BURR. 



EUROCLYDON 



OR 



THE SHIPWRECK OF ST. PAUL 



A BIBLE STORY IN BLANK VERSE 



- 



BY REV. H. M. BURR 



Price, 20 cents per copy. For sale by Booksellers. Order from W. S. Bell Book 
& Stationery Co., 418 Olive st., St. Lous, Mo. Usual discount to the trade. 



! WAYi; 



NIXON JONES PRINTING CO. h*' 

1896. 



Copyrighted, 18%, 

BY H. M. BURR 



(nv 






TO MY WIFE, 

with whom I have walked for more than a quarter of a 

century, with ever increasing love, this 

little book is dedicated by 

THE AUTHOR. 



EUEOCLYDON 



OR 



THE SHIPWRECK OF SAINT PAUL 



Fair Haven's limpid waters hugged the ship, 
As if t' entreat the ancient mariner 
To winter there, nor risk his precious freight 
Of merchandise and priceless human life 
Upon the threat'ning sea, with autumn past. 

Three men — each one a giant in his way — 
Appear upon the scene: centurion, 
Clad with a glit'ring Roman uniform, 
And armed with Roman soldier's threat'ning blade 
With lordly mein and military air, 
Knit brow, stern eye, obedient unto death 



D EUROCLYDON. 

If Caesar's will should but decree it so ; 

The merchant, owner of the gallant craft, 

Well dressed, well fed, evincing pride of wealth, 

And wearing smile of fawning sycophant — 

Smile but skin deep, and born of selfishness, 

Thrown out as bait to catch th' unwary fool 

And draw from him what gold he may possess; 

And prisoner, with shackled hands and feet. 

Strange pris'ner that, with valor unexcelled 

By Koman soldiery — fearless of death — 

Yet courteous far beyond the merchant's grace; 

So calm and self-possessed, so free, though bound, 

Himself a child of Rome, free born, the peer 

Of any man on board, a student of 

The world-renowned Gamaliel of yore — 

'Twas Paul, once known and feared as Tarsus Saul. 

"Kind sirs," said Paul, with proper courtesy, 

Though cringing not ' fore wealth or pompous power, 

And caring not for self, so God is pleased — 

" Kind sirs, Lasea long our time hath claimed, 

The fast is past, and sailing dangerous; 



EUROCLYDON. 

I do admonish you, for I perceive 

That this late voyage injury will bring 

And damage to the lading of the ship, 

And also place our lives in jeopardy." 

But traders, seeking only coveted gold, 

Impatient of delay in reaching Rome, 

Urged swift departure thence for Phenice' Hav'n. 

So merchant's avaricious pleas prevailed 

And soon o'ercame centurion's rising fears. 

The south wind softly blew and silenced all 

Who dared advise to winter in Fair Hav'ns. 

So, frequently, do sun, wind, rain and calm 

Unite to strengthen evil thoughts and deeds. 

With ship well manned and yielding sails unfurled, 
With merchant, crew, centurion and all, 
(Save one) o'erjoyed with hope of prosperous sail, 
They glide away toward Phenice' Hav'n, of Crete, 
With baseless hope that they should winter there. 
So sails th' ill-fated ship, careless of fate, 
Carrying two hundred six and seventy souls 
To destiny unknown except to God. 



Q 

EUROCLYDON. 



Behold those human souls as thus they sail: 
Shipmaster, with stentorian voice, commands; 
Sailors, with jest, and song, and oath, proceed 
With per'lous duties, manifold and long; 
Soldiers alert lest prisoners should escape, 
Whiling away the time as best they may; 
The prisoners, reeking with their heinous' crimes, 
Cursing the law, and swearing innocence, 

Yet startling oft from fear of merited ill — 

For "Thieves do think each bush an officer; " 

The merchants, talking o'er their gain in Rome; 

The scholar, bent upon Italian lore; 

The epicure, with well-spiced viands pleased; 

Th' idol'trous priest, observing sacred rites ; 

And one, alone, with sad, though trustful mien, 

Awaiting presciently, Euroclydon. 

Anon, the storm which Paul by faith beheld 

Now burst with frightful fury on the crew. [wind, 

From north, from south, from east, from west, the 

At intervals, blew fiercely, lashing seas 

Into a million giant mountain heights, 



EUROCLYDON. \i 

'Twixt which yawned gulfs and chasms of awfurdepths. 

Their skill and strength o'er-taxed, the frightened crew. 

Ceased every effort to control the ship, 

And, yielding her unto the storm's embrace, 

They stood aghast and let the vessel drive. 

(Fair Hav'ns lieth, from Phenice, forty miles — 

More than four hundred through Euroclydon 

The vessel sailed to reach Melita's shore.) 

Quick-sands, near Clauda's island, menacing 

The driven ship, the boat was taken up, 

And " helps " employed. Six times around the ship 

They wound the giant cable tight and strong, 

And then, with fear, " strake sail, and so were driven.' 

All night the floundering ship from storm-god sped 

Along through unknown seas. Her quivering form 

Now points her prow to heaven, splits crested wave, 

Then clashes down again with lightning speed. 

Now larboard, starboard, alternate with keel, 

As gravitation seems to lose control, 

And evil water spirits leap and dance 

In wild demoniacal angry glee. 



10 EUROCLYDON. 

Ten thousand times Niagara's voice would fail 
To equal all the roaring of the waves 
That chased each other o'er the angry seas — 
Now clashed with loud explode, to separate 
With mad recoil, t' renew the ceaseless din — 
Dead to the cries and tears and prayers of those 
Who lashed themselves to ship lest angry waves 
Should wash them overboard. Above, the heavens, 
That late had spent each live-long, lovely night 
In watching o'er Fair Haven's harbored fleets, 
With myriad eyes of brilliance unsurpassed, 
Now close each pitying eye, refusing light, 
Save zigzag, sulphurous flames of hell on clouds 
Of depths no thought would dare to penetrate — 
A light which gives no light, but blinds them all, 
Till eyeless, sightless fish in Mammoth Cave, 
Could see as well (and better sail) as they. 
No chart or compass graced that ancient ship, 
No star to guide it in its mad career, 
No Christ to still the angry, raging waves, 
No real god those heathen cries to hear. 



EUROCLYDON. 11 

Long, long that awful sad and dreary night. 
The weary moments dragged themselves to hours, 
And hours enough crown darkest night with morn — 
But such a morn ! No sun to rise in strength 
That swallows up the stars and moon, or melts 
The nimbus cloud and scatters all the mists. 
So, boom on boom ! the heaven's artilleries roll, 
And flash on flash the lightning splits the air, 
While Alpine mountain heights exhaust themselves 
In battle with the neighboring heights. 
More fiercely blows the frightful ocean gale, 
And higher leap the Himalayan waves, 
And deeper sinks the cavernous trough between. 

The seamen now declare that only loss 
Of valued merchandise aboard can save 
The ship and all its crew from total loss. 
What price will men not pay for their own lives? 
With joy the merchant saw his wares consigned 
To ocean's wave, that lightened ship might thus 
Outride the storm and bring Mm safe to port. 
The laboring night gave birth to darkling day, 



12 EUROCLYDON. 

And day, in turn, gave birth to darkest night, 

Until three laboring nights and days were past, 

And no relief was brought. All surplus weight 

Must now relieve the ship, or she must sink, 

And all on board must fill a watery grave. 

The sailors threw the "tackling" overboard — 

All extra anchors, cables — useless now — 

While passengers, alarmed, with their" own hands,' 

Cast trunks and other baggage into sea. 

Still came and went the stormy nights and days, 

Nor sun, nor moon, nor star gave ray of light. 

The passengers had no desire for food, 

Asked only that the flickering ray of life 

Might not be quenched by Adria's wave, 

But seemed to ask in vain, for heaven gave back 

For every prayer a deafening thunder peal, 

For every tear a blinding flood of rain, 

For every ray of hope a lightning flash, 

For every groan the roar of ocean's waves. 

The heart grows sick from hope too long deferred, 

And from these hearts the light of hope had fled ; 



EUROCLYDON. 13 

Grim Death stalked o'er the sea and round the ship, 
And shuddering souls awaited his embrace. 

Then up rose one from 'mongst the prisoners, 
His clankjng chains chiming with bellowing storm. 
Age had not dimmed his eye, nor direst foes 
Had broken that proud Roman's Christian will. 
His pulse, the storm could not accelerate, 
His hope, the hopeless crew could not destroy. 
The strengthening food he ate, they knew not of, 
Companions his, the crew had never seen, 
And voice they never heard came to his ears. 
So now he speaks, his voice distinctly heard 
Above the ocean's roar and thunder peals. 
First gave he mild rebuke — " Ye barkened not 
To me, but loosed from Crete, and so have gained 
This harm and loss ; but now exhort I you 
That of good cheer you be, for not a man 
Of all on board shall perish by this storm; 
Nevertheless, the ship shall be destroyed. 
Last night I lay with fellow prisoners, 
Conscious of innocence and godly zeal, 



14 EUBOCIiTDON. 

All calm within, while rude storms raged without 
Prayerful and trustful, hoping still in God ; 
When la! a light., above the light of sun, 
Burst through the frightful darkness all around, 
Swallowed the lightning flash, and clothed a form 
Angelic, sent to me, who gently spake, 
Saying, 'Fear not, O Paul! thou must be brought 
To Ctaesar, and all on the ship shall live.' 
Wherefore 1 pray you, now, be of good cheer. 
For 1 believe God will do as he said." 

What matchless power can one brave soul exert ! 
A thousand one can chase, ten thousand two 
Can put to flight, if but the one, or two, 
Are linked, by faith and prayer, to God. 
E'en so were chased a thousand doubts and fears 
From frightened hearts that hopeless were before: 
Two hundred tive and seventy souls respond, 
In faith, to faith and hope expressed by one. 
Christian sailor o'er life's stormy sea. 
Remember — scores of storm-tossed mariners. 
Disconsolate, from thee need words of hope. 



EUROCLYDON. 15 

Cry out, above the storm, " Be of good cheer ; " 
So shall thy fellow-men discard their fears. 

Now, when the fourteenth stormy night was come, 
With shig driv'n up and down in Adria's sea, 
While darkest midnight lay upon the crew, 
The shipmen saw a change in wrestling waves, 
Betok'ning contact with a battered shore, 
And thunder-peals, reverberating wide, 
Came back with sound as from a wooded isle, 
And seaward blasts brought smell of autumn leaves. 
Full well the seamen knew the danger near ; 
Out went the sounding plumb-line, quick as thought, 
And, "Fathoms twenty," cried a sailor's voice. 
Again the lead was tossed into the sea, 
And, " Fifteen fathoms only," cries the voice. 
No time to lose, lest vessel strike the rock; 
The heavy four-fluked anchor now is cast 
Into the raging sea to stay the ship. 
At first. the auchor drags, then grasps the rocks ; 
The vessel wheels about with dizzy speed, 
And surges at the giant cable strong — 



16 EUROCLYDON. 

Then passengers can only " wish for day." 

Oh, shame for human weakness, cowardice and crime ! 

The sailors cared for naught but their own weal : 

So now they gather up the smaller boat, 

Pretending anchors from the bow to cast, 

The ship more safety thus to guarantee, 

While grateful ones behold their perilous work. 

But through the fraud looks Paul's descerning eye ; 

He human nature knows too well to trust, 

And also knows a soldier's quick response. 

" Soldiers," said Paul, " These shipmen seek t' escape ; 

Their skill now serves them well ; they go ashore ; 

We, knowing not the sailors' art, must drown ; 

If these abide not in the ship we're lost." 

From scabbards flashed a dozen Roman blades, 

And, quick as thought, before a sailor's foot 

Had touched the boat, they severed every rope 

And let the treach'rous craft float out to sea. 

Discomfited, the sailors were compelled 

T' remain on board the vessel, at their post. 

Now, Paul, mindful of body as of soul, 



EUROCLYDON. 17 

Beseeches them to take a little food, 

While morn is coming on, for sake of health, 

Declaring they had fasted fourteen days, 

Also assuring them of landing sate. 

Then took he bread, in .presence of them all, 

And, looking up toward heav'n gave ardent thanks, 

Saying, " Lord, we thank thee much for sparing life, 

For giving bread and meat, for faith and hope 

To see salvation from an awful death." 

Good cheer then flowed from heart to heart, as all, 

With joy, partook of food and hoped for good. 

Then further lightened they the storm-tossed ship, 

By casting all the wheat into the sea, 

That when the morn should come they might reach land. 

By light of morn the land now hove in sight, 

And lo ! there gushes forth, from yonder shore, a creek, 

Into the which they seek to thrust the ship. 

The cumbrous anchor now is taken up, 

The rudder bands are loosed, the sail is spread, 

The prow is turned toward shore, and all await, 

With hopes and fears, the awful consequence. 



18 EUROCLYDON. 

Two rushing seas from different points collide, 

Just as tli' ill-fated ship was passing through ; 

They miss the creek and run the ship aground; 

The prow is buried deep into the sands, 

Remains immovable, while violent waves 

Now seize the ship abaft, break her in twain, 

And threaten to ingulf each mariner. 

" Be quick, let's kill the prisoners," soldiers cry, 

" Lest some of them swim out and so escape, 

And thus, when we arrive at royal Rome, 

That law which brings to 'count each Roman guard, 

Should fall on us with direst penalty." 

"Nay, stay thy hand," centurion loudly cries, 

kk Wouldst slay the saint of God who saved our lives? 

Should Paul, our faithful, brave, trustworthy friend, 

Fall 'neath the stroke of Roman soldier's sleel? 

The gods forbid ! Go knock those shackles off, 

Set pris'ners free, and bid them swim to shore." 

The shackles fell, the bravest swimmers led, 

While others, seizing boards and ship's debris, 

Joined with the motley crew — and all were saved. 



EUROCLYDON. 19 

Weird scene was that, and fit for artist's brush — 
Vast company of shipwrecked human souls 
Awaiting unseen dangers on the isle. 
All drenched with ocean water, autumn chilled, 
And decorated with sea weeds and foam, 
They shiver, dying on Melita's shore. 
Unconscious and exhausted, some sink down 
And stretch their forms in groups upon the sand, 
While others wring their sea-washed hands and weep, 
At thought of worldly loss, of mothers, friends 
And sweethearts, whose embrace and loving tones 
Dwelt in the past alone, and who should ne'er 
Again behold loved ones who sailed for Rome. 
Perhaps a poet there, with poet's ken, 
To wring some joy from each environment, 
And, shivering, listen to the dashing waves, 
And find some weirdest, tragic music there. 
A wise philosopher now chides the crew — 
" Kuow'st not we die on sentimental thought? 
Weep not, but let the dead past bury dead, 
Dispel poetic thoughts, to action fly. 



20 EUROCLYDON. 

Behind us ship is wrecked, on shore we freeze, 

Or starve. This drenching rain none can endure ; 

And see ! through yonder swaying, wind-tossed woods 

There conies a barb'rous horde of cannibals 

To feast upon our shriveled, shivering frames. 

Be quick ! Where is our brave centurion ? 

Up! Roman solders, with your threat'ning spears, 

Defend this helpless, shipwrecked, dying crew." 

Alas ! no soldiers' burnished steel was there, 

And sea weed uniforms wore all alike. 

Then out spake Paul: " What told I you at sea? 

That no man's life of all on board is lost. 

Who saved you when Euroclydon arose ? 

When sail nor rudder no man dared to touch? 

Through fourteen weary days and anxious nights 

The storm-god chased you o'er the angry sea, 

Till hope had fled, and he who made the storm 

Assumed command and brought us to this shore. 

Now trust in God, for he who saved these souls 

From death by lightning flash and briny wave, 

Can well control barbarian's passions wild." 



EUROCLYDON. 21 

On came the barb'rous herd — -but paused, amazed ; 
Such sight their eyes had ne'er before beheld. 
Shipwrecks they oft had seen, and plundered, too, 
But ne'er before had seen entire ship-load 
Of human beings cast, unhurt, ashore, 
Bereft of all except their shivering forms. 
No plea of kin or creed or mystic sign 
Is needed here — an arrow pierced each heart 
Of all that barb'rous crew, and held, spell-bound — 
Arrow not Hinted head or feathered shaft, 
Arrow of love and human sympathy — 
Convincing all that creeds and mystic ties 
Are needless where this thought is recognized : — 
The fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man. 

With primitive device they kindle fire ; 
Two stones of flint a friendly native brings, 
Which, smote together, now emit a spark, 
Igniting fungus growth, then two dry twigs, 
From thence to larger sticks, till flames intense 
Seem fed by forest wood, though dripping wet. 
Our hero, Paul, tho' oft at Roman courts, 



22 EUROCLYDON. 

Philosopher and orator renowned, 
Admired and loved by all with whom he sailed, 
And whom the greatest there would gladly serve, 
Now volunteers to aid in gathering wood, 
And thus to prove that he who greatest is 
Will gladly be a servant unto all. 

The isle of Malta thick infested was 
With serpents. Poisonous they to such extent 
That no man bitten was ever known to live. 
Now from the forest forth comes faithful Paul, 
His brawny arms well filled with dripping sticks. 
Back spring the natives, horror-struck, to see, 
Dangling from Paul's half-frozen, torpid hands, 
The serpent, which, to them, was messenger 
Of death the gods had sent to punish crime. 
" Aha ! " they cry, " this is some murderer 
Who has escaped from storm gods' angry clutch, 
To find that gods on Malta have prepared 
A messenger of death to criminals." 
Paul smiled, shook off the venomous snake in flame, 
Pursued his chosen task, all unconcerned. 



EUROCLYDON. 23 

The natives look to see a swollen form 

Drop dead, as they had often seen before, 

But look in vain, then quickly change their minds, 

Declaring. Paul to be none less than God. 

The isle resounded with the fame of Paul, 
For healing sick, and other wondrous deeds, 
His shipwrecked friends and captors found in him, 
A savior from the per' Is of sea and land. 
For sake of Paul the natives honored them 
For three long months, while lingering on that isle. 
In spring a ship from Alexandria 
Conveyed them safely thence to royal Rome. 

Euroclydon, what lessons canst thou teach? 
This one instruction thou dost clearly yield: — 
The church, designed to be man's dearest friend, 
Too often proves his fierce, relentless foe. 
They who had forged the pris'ner's chain for Paul, 
And caused his shipwreck by Euroclydon, 
Were not of barb'rous stock — not heathen they, 
Ah, no. They proudly traced ancestral line 



24 



EUROCLYDON. 



Through holy prophets, priests and kings of yore ; 

To them belonged the oracles of God ; 

They conned the Holy Scriptures o'er by rote, 

In pride made broad their own phylacteries, 

Prayed loud, upon the corners of the streets, 

Of cummin, mint and anise paid their tithes, 

And to them sinful Gentiles were but •• doers." 

The Jews — the wise and holy church of God — 

'Twas they arrested and imprisoned Paul, 

By accusation false to Roiuau power. 

Thus has it ever been since man has fallen : 

In name of some religion martyrs die. 

Who slew the Christ and persecuted Paul? 

The church ! Whence came the inquisition's crime? 

From church —professing servitude of God. 

From Europe's shores who drove the Puritans? 

The church! And who but these same Puritans 

Soon persecuted others unto death, 

Imagined witchcraft being their only crime? 

To-day, the church may kill by subtler modes, 
Boycott a business, ruin character, 



EUROCLYDON. 25 

League with a power of learning or of wealth, 

To practice arts deceptive and severe, 

' Gainst any who her mandates do ignore. 

She may exalt the pigmies who obey, 

And damn the man who dares t'assert himself, 

If that assertion thwarts the purposes 

Of " powers that be," or leaves the beaten track. 

God pity thine own backslidden selfish church, 

And send to her some kind Euroclydon, 

Awak'ning her to sense of heinous crimes. 

Another lesson, also, here we're taught: — 
That persecution oft doth scatter good, 
And elevate the persecuted soul 
To vantage ground of greatest usefulness. 
Exalted privilege was that of Paul — 
Preached gospel unto fellow passengers, 
The glad news spread o'er all Melita's isle, 
For two whole years proclaimed the truth in Rome, 
Because, forsooth, the church arrested him. 
'Twas banished John who saw on Patmos Isle 
The conquests of the future, and defeats. 



26 EUROCLYDON. 

When persecution rages dire and strong, 

Those scattered everywhere, the gospel preach. 

O worthy soul! Have former friends now fled? 

Art driven from thy cherished hopes aud plans, 

Compelled t' endure some fierce Euroclydon, 

And thereby carried from thy destined port? 

Oh ! fear thou not, for God is at the helm ; 

Thy heart, and usefulness, he will enlarge. 

And art thou bound by chains which they have forged 

Who should have been thy warmest, dearest friends? 

Those chains shall prove thy passport unto Heaven. 

All lessons which Euroclydon doth teach 
We may not here attempt to amplify ; 
But this one more, in closing, we surest: — 

O 7 Do 

To ev'ry creature doth extend God's love. 

They who obey, and they who disobey 

Are objects of his care, and all will find 

In him, a father worthy of their trust. 

Why live in sin against his tenderest love? 

That love should conquer passions, wild and strong, 

And lead us, now, to say, " I yield, I yield.' ' 



The Unrecognized Force. 

By Rev H. M. BURR. 

A TREATISE ON PRAYER. 

Science Recognizes Six Forces ; this is a Plea 
for the Seventh. 

Printed on good paper, in large, clear type, and bound 
in beautiful, white "defender" covers; about 32 pages. 
Price, 20 cents. Usual discount to the trade. Order 
from W. S. Bell Book & Stationery Co., 818 Olive street, 
St. Louis, Mo. 



EUROCLYDON; 

OR, 

THE SHIPWRECK OF ST. PAUL, 

A BIBLE STORY IN BLANK VERSE. 

Same style and terms as above. 










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